This page is dedicated to bigger projects, we are or were involved in-

This Multi Yurt (inspired by Hal Wynne Jones) is a complex consisiting of a 21' central yurt with six adjoined bays of 2/3 12` yurts which are open on one side to form a shared space which in turn makes the central space. The roof poles for that central space start at the wheels of the 12` and go up to the central wheel, and also from each join between the 12` up to the main wheel.

We got asked by Toby Fairlove to cover this structure, not a simple task as it involved making intricate roof pieces laced together to make the whole cover and also need ing to allow for natural variations in the coppiced wood.

We had to use a friendly tractor to get the main wheel up as it needed a firm hold on the central wheel because of the central yurt`s rafters weight.

The cover introduced a new level of challenge. The answer came in the form of step lock buckles, the little buckle like things we have on our school bags, the ones we tighten the straps on. they allowed the whole cover to be tightened to itself without creating a strain on the lacing systems.

The 6 smaller stars were sewn 2/3 on to the roofs to make it easier to position them, but to keep the option of flipping them open.

All in all the whole thing was a good challenge. We had a while with the frame but only a short time with it all in place. It was heavy weather when we came to put it all together, and seeing Toby leave us with the whole thing on a trailer in the dark with heavy rain was a bit disheartening, but .............

                                                                                                                                                      

The Yurt Palace, as it is known.

This consists of a main 30` yurt with adjoining pods 2 x 16` yurts and 2 x 12`, the whole serving as the new home for Ed and Henrietta of the Hoopoe Hotel in the mountains of southern Spain.

The frame was made by Yurtshop and cover by us. The yurts are individual yurts joined together by one door frame which acts as a door way for both yurts, the whole structure  sitting on decks. with two opening doors to the outside, the front one in the 30` and a back in a 12` at the back.

The difficulties this time were more in coming up with a fully water proof joining system. Together with Yurtshop ,we came up with probably the best water tight solution. It involved making an inner gully attached with lacing and step locks (our little saviours again), basically that the cover locks and laces to itself and to the frame, while maintaining no open holes to the outside. The other issue was making the lacing system for the walls from plans rather than on the frame, and the changing nature of measurements from plans to the real world.

We ended up in a sewing marathon to complete the cover at Ed and Henrietta`s in Spain, after the almost impossible task of getting our 30' truck in, ducking under the very low branches of the cork oaks. It was a race against time to finish before Christmas so that they can move in.

We think it is maybe one of the world`s finest, maybe a second only to Henry`s sandwiches!! 

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Graig wen-

Although this was not a big job (an 18`and 12`yurts), it was interesting all the

same.

It started when John and Sarah asked us for a couple of yurts, they were looking for a local yurt maker and them being a bit south of snowdonia, made us local enough I guess.

The fun started when John asked us if we could use the wood on their land, the idea was good so we agreed, in retrospect this is what we are going to do more of if we can, working on site, coming to a place and doing it up from the bottom, but anyway, we did not hear from them for a while as they were getting their campsite all bought from the former owners and stuff.

then finally after some snow in midwinter, I drove our old 30` merc and the chain saw to their place, they had plenty of ash, which was not really small enough for copicced frames but grew quite thick together meaning that the trees needed to be thinned anyway, the downside was that they were almost all behind a stonewall, which meant we had to bodily get them out, with our own bodies I mean, It was quite a thrill though, running down the hill pulling  heavy logs at neck breaking speed, and moving out of the way so it would not crush into oneself... 

The next bit was more about 4x4 spinning and chains, and quite a lot of rolling ons and offs, it was quite an effort to get it all in the truck by dark but it happened.

The wood proven to be a bit too green to use, it is common to think that because one is steaming the best is the freshest wood, but this is untrue, so the main challenge with this job, was getting the wood to season while we were making it, meaning every bit was made in order so to give the rest more time to season, especially the wheels and the rafters, because they take the biggest bit of bending.

It was good to bring the trees back to where they came from a few months later back to Graig wen and the beautiful estuary, We left John and Sarah with the stove lit in the 18` which felt like the way it should be, I think they prefer to stay in the yurt themselves.